Comments by Vince

After viewing the 6x17 sneak peeks, I decided to watch “Knockdown” again to get a feel for how this episode might play out on the screen. The torture scene was hard to watch, but overall I enjoyed the episode. I think most regular viewers knew that Kate's ‘powerful enemy from the past’ had to be Vulcan Simmons. There was a lot of intense action packed into just 43 minutes which I guess was needed in order to replicate the kind of drama viewers usually see in a two part episode. The drug unit plan was terribly flawed. I could tell during the initial Elena interview playback that she was speaking in code and that she was a killer. The reasons given by the drug unit captain for Kate’s role were a pretty flimsy excuse for her to get herself involved in an undercover narcotics mission. When Gates offered to Kate to refuse the mission, she agreed to accept the challenge, but I don’t think she was given enough details to understand the actual risks. She is a homicide detective who is well-known by NYC hard-nosed criminals especially the drug underworld and it was pretty obvious that somebody would recognize her right away. Poor Kate had to come up with another definition for the word ‘undercover’ (meeting) in order to keep Castle from getting involved. You can't blame Kate for not telling Castle any details about the mission because Castle still refuses to keep his nose out of classified business which could put him and his future wife in danger. For hyped up episodes like this one, I still watch for bits which show those seconds dealing with the reality of the Caskett relationship. Kate sitting down and writing that letter to Castle was that moment for me in this episode. The writers deem not appropriate to show viewers any Caskett passionate kisses, no bare shoulders while our couple is sitting up in bed, but instead we get plenty of physical violence including water torture.

This was a fun episode that focused on Castle and Beckett and let Beckett have an important moment with Alexis. Most of the Caskett interactions in this episode were adorable and the episode had so many great callbacks from earlier times in the series. It was like an old school episode of Castle when Ryan and Esposito are second string to Castle and Beckett with just the right balance. The case itself was interesting and it felt like the storyline came right out of Season 2 or 3 with some welcome continuity. The three guest actors who played the people confessing to murder were each really funny and convincing. It was good to find out that Pi is finally out of the picture, but most of what happened with Alexis in this episode and in 6x13 “Limelight” presented as attempts by the writers to backtrack from everything that went down earlier in the season. The Alexis arc was not well executed because of the way that story line was done. In the earlier episodes, it was never implied that Alexis was making any kind of error in judgment or was in a ‘love haze’ when that entire thing was happening. The impression constantly given was that Castle was doing something wrong. The writers used the Beckett coffee shop meeting with Alexis as a method to retroactively change what the point of that story line was and I found that kind of annoying. The scene between Beckett and Alexis is probably what should have happened in 6x7 when we got that hug without any words scene. If this conversation had happened then, I think it would have felt more satisfying and more believable. To have it happening now just feels like damage control in order to fix the mess done to the Alexis character in the early episodes.I love it when Castle is allowed to be smart and be useful. It's good to see him help Kate figure things out, rather than being made out to be foolish and seemingly only there for comic relief. I like highly frustrated Kate too. It is funny that Alexis asks to move into the loft, but Kate never talks with Castle about moving her things into the loft. Kate is clearly spending every night there so, why don’t the writers move her out of her apartment. Kate wearing that jade ring on her right hand presented like a real ‘in your face’ moment to the 'no ring' critics. In the interrogation room scene with the first confessor, the camera angle was deliberate and close up in order to not miss the ring since it is such a dark color and odd size. Viewers got two separate camera shots before she sits down at the table which makes it very noticeable. She is right-handed. You would think that it could be an issue if she had to draw her gun. Kate not wearing the engagement ring will probably be explained later in much the same way that it was revealed in one sentence during the opening scene in “Limelight “ that the couple had previously discussed the public image issue. I guess the ring is just not that important to the writers' story, but it still does not explain why the show would select a diamond that size and then purchase five copies of it, yet never show Kate wearing it outside of the precinct.

I really enjoyed the episode. In terms of Caskett moments, the 6x15 episode has been the best so far. The middle domestic scene was a nice bit of character interlude. It was good to see them suddenly together at the loft having dinner and talking/sharing moments. The writers need to give them more screen time now away from the precinct in order that they can really explore things and talk about their future together. Also, I feel like we got a lot of Castle and Beckett theorizing at the murder board moments which have been lacking lately. The Creasey writing couple has been a great addition to the writers’ room. Except for a few senior Castle writers, their style of writing has been consistently missing since the start of Season 4. I always enjoy it when the writers really nail the continuity issues which this writing couple seems to accomplish so well. The prom setting and the dance love talk was a clever way to show how fate has brought them together. Given such a fun episode this week, you just wonder what the writers have planned in order to pull the rug out from under us as the storyline moves forward to the wedding.

I wonder how the writers are going to explain away that telekinesis moment at the school. I don't want it turning out like "Time Will Tell", an episode where they failed to explain it and implied time travel was real. Castle should be grounded in reality, it's not the X files. So I hope in doing what looks like a Carrie rip off they do clear this up.

Dressed to Kill was a solid episode that allowed for many character driven moments. I enjoyed the episode because it felt like I was watching some old school Castle episode from Season 2 or 3. Again, the ABC promos and screener previews were very misleading especially the “cold feet" comment. There was somewhat of a missed opportunity at the start when our engaged couple first met the magazine editor and Castle didn’t show more of a reaction to finding out Beckett did some modeling work in her teen years. I expected Castle to hassle Kate for a photo or for the story behind why she quit. In the end scene, Castle and Beckett had a real conversation about things that matter which should happen way more often than it does. They also got to a have casual intimacy that is normal for an engaged couple. If Castle and Beckett had more casual intimacy, then the demand for kisses wouldn’t be so intense from fans. I really loved the part Martha played in this episode as well. Dressed to Kill had a great balance of Castle and Beckett with the supporting cast.At this point, the dress seems like a fake-out. The only reason for showcasing that dress presents that the writer wanted us to see Beckett in a wedding dress because the actual wedding will not be happening as planned. However, there is still hope because Beckett displayed so much excitement and enthusiasm for it and she did tell Castle she already has a dress for their wedding. It seems like Marlowe might have backed himself into a corner by letting Luke design the dress on his own. The fans deserve to see Caskett walking down the aisle after waiting six years, but it appears unlikely given all the rope-a-dope put out there recently about the wedding dates. I will be on writer watch for the last 3 episodes for a clue about what might happen in the finale.

The 6x14 spoilers are out in full force on twitter today because of the release in the UK, but I have only watched the ABC sneak peeks. If you go on tumblr right now, you will be spoiled for sure! If you are willing to forgive AWM, then it must be good. I am looking forward to Monday to watch the episode LIVE. I guess using a French director to tell the story was a smart move by the show runner after all.

I expected "Limelight" to replicate 2x14 "The Third Man" with the usual banter and some comedy over the newspaper story, but not even close except for the opening scene and Kate's phone call from her father.

Agree about Pi. I have posted here previously that I always thought that the Pi connection to Alexis had something to do with Castle’s wealth. The early visit to the loft might have been the writers just making him still appear as annoying, but it does look suspicious. To include him in that many episodes and then just have him disappear like Sully without any scenes with Alexis in their apartment is surprising. The fact that nobody at the precinct especially Ryan never thought to check on his background is really strange.